Effect of Periwinkle Extract (Catharanthus roseus) on Caspase-3 Levels and Renal Interleukin-6 Levels on Cadmium Poisoning

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal known to induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, particularly in kidney tissue, as shown by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and apoptotic markers like Caspase-3. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) extract against cadmium induced kidney damage in male Balb/C mice. Twenty mice were randomly divided into four groups: a healthy control group (KS) receiving only pellets and water; a negative control group (KN) receiving intraperitoneal cadmium chloride at 4.5 mg/kg body weight/day; a positive control group (KP) treated with cadmium and vitamin E (50 IU/kg BW/day); and a treatment group (P1) given cadmium along with oral periwinkle extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg BW/day for five days. Kidney tissues were collected post-treatment, by six days, levels of IL-6 and Caspase-3 were measured using ELISA. The results showed that the periwinkle treated group had significantly lower IL-6 levels (59.4±17.9) compared to the cadmium-only group (115.1±5.85), and lower Caspase-3 levels (247.1±4.9) compared to the negative control (271.3±14.2), with statistical significance (p<0.05). These findings suggest that periwinkle extract exerts a protective effect by reducing inflammation and apoptosis in kidneys exposed to cadmium toxicity.